Efficacy of Ivor Lewis esophagogastrectomy for esophageal cancer

Long-term survival following Ivor Lewis esophagogastrectomy for esophageal cancer is stage-dependent, with a low survival associated with advanced cancers, claims a team from Minnesota and Arizona, USA.

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The researchers examined the efficacy of the Ivor Lewis esophagogastrectomy for esophageal carcinoma, prior to the widespread use of preoperative chemotherapy and irradiation.

They reported their findings in the June issue of Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

The researchers found that the operative mortality rate was 1.4% (3 patients), and complications occurred in 83 patients (38%).

Median survival for operative survivors was 1.9 years (range, 32 days to 8.7 years).

The overall 5-year survival rate was found to be 25%. It was 80% for patients in stage 0, 94% for those in stage I, 36% for stage IIa, 14% for stage IIb, 10% for stage III, and 0% for patients in stage IV.

Dr Antonio L. Visbal, of the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, concluded on behalf of the team, "Ivor Lewis esophagogastrectomy for esophageal cancer is a safe operation.

"Long-term survival is stage-dependent. The low survival associated with advanced cancers should stimulate the search for effective neoadjuvant therapy."